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Quinton de Kock Opens Up After Reversing Retirement: ‘I Was Very Unsure, But…’
Follow UsDe Kock made a shock retirement u-turn two weeks back
After announcing his Test retirement as early as 2021, his ODI retirement at the end of the 2023 ODI World Cup and moving away from T20Is post the T20 World Cup in 2024, it looked like Quinton de Kock’s international career was all but over. De Kock had transitioned successfully into a T20 freelancer, and it was only a few weeks back that he was playing in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
However, the 32-year-old shocked the world two weeks ago by reversing his ODI retirement, and he also got subsequently named in South Africa’s T20I squad for Pakistan, opening the door for him to feature in the 2026 T20 World Cup as well.
In a recent interview, the wicketkeeper batter finally opened up about his shock return, and explained the rationale behind the decision.
“Honestly, I just wanted to get back and win games for the Proteas again – that’s pretty much what it comes down to. There’s nothing else to it,” De Kock told the Sunday Times.
“But I was very unsure – if I should or not.”
Explaining why he decided to initially walk away from international cricket, even his best format which is ODI cricket, de Kock revealed that he was burnt out mentally, physically and emotionally.
“I was pretty tired of being a Protea at that stage,” he said. “I’ve been playing with the Proteas for over a decade. All the travel and representing my country – it kind of broke me.
“Mentally it took a toll on me. It’s tough dealing with losses when expectations are so high. Eventually I decided, I don’t know if I can carry on doing this.”
The 32-year-old admitted that the home ODI World Cup in 2027 played a big part in him reversing retirement, but insisted that, for the time being, he will be taking it one series at a time.
“I guess so, that’s one of the few reasons I put my name in,” he said, referring to the ODI World Cup in 2027.
“It’s a big thing. There’s some seriously good talent in the team at the moment, and they seem to be playing really well.
“I haven’t really thought about the 2027 World Cup, or even next year’s T20 World Cup. I’m just trying to figure out how I’ll score runs in the next series. I’m taking it one step at a time.”